8 minute read
The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award
In 2019, alumni, faculty and staff came together to celebrate the vision and tenure of Dean Eric Spangenberg. Through this generosity, The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award was created. This endowment supports the mission of the Center for Global Leadership (CGL), to build leaders with a sustainable global vision. Creating a more culturally aware student body through access to global travel is at the core of CGL, and your investment makes this possible. Providing this access for undergraduate students sparks a lifetime of learning, helping them develop their skills to function professionally in both national and international markets.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award was given to Ruby Osorio, a first-generation undergraduate student seeking exposure to global markets.
For the 2020-2021 academic year, The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award was given to Catherine Nguyen, an undergraduate student with a proven track record of giving back to the community.
2019-2020 Recipient
How did The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award change your career path?
The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award was designed for students seeking exposure to global markets through an international residential program offered by the Merage School. Unfortunately, I was not able to participate in the Undergraduate International Residential Program, where I would have traveled to Germany and Poland, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the program was canceled, I gained knowledge about the socio-economic, cultural, managerial and political issues faced by companies, consumers, and investors in the International Residential course taught by Professor Eppel. This award changed my career path because I took it upon myself to learn about the issues that the United States faces today. One issue individuals face is finding an affordable place to live, and as a result, many families with kids end up homeless. Learning about this inspired me to look for a career that fights to end homelessness, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to work in a non-profit organization as a Housing and Homeless Case Worker.
How did the Merage School help you achieve your goals?
When I began my classes as a freshman, I was not sure what I wanted to do with a Business Administration degree, but the Merage School has done an excellent job giving me the opportunity to explore different fields through the classes offered. After taking accounting, marketing, finance, organizational management, human resources, and information system classes, I can say that I really enjoyed learning about marketing and organizational management. An academic goal of mine was to double major in Business Administration and Criminology, Law and Society. The Merage School assisted me with academic advising and course planning to ensure that I was on path to graduate on time.
Tell us about your background before you became a student at the Merage School?
I was born and raised in Santa Ana, California. Santa Ana is an underrepresented and low-income community where many of the schools lack resources. In result, many people in Santa Ana do not strive for higher education, and if they do, not many graduate college. Learning about education inequality at a young age motivated me to strive for a college degree. Before I became a student at the Merage School, I was reaching out to my academic advisors in high school to ensure my path to college was successful. As a first-generation student, I did not really know how I was going to afford college, but with the help of my mentors, I learned about scholarships, grants and financial aid. I am forever grateful that I had them guide me through high school and college, because not many students at my school had a mentor that truly cared.
How has this award impacted your experience at the Merage School?
This award impacted my experience at the Merage School because it gave me more time to focus on my studies and it lightened the financial burden during my last quarter at UCI. COVID-19 took a toll on my life. My hours at work were cut drastically, and just like many other college students, had to worry about making my rent and bills on time, paying for food and finding a new job. This award really helped me finish my last quarter at UCI.
What opportunities are you most grateful for?
As a first-generation and low-income student, I am grateful that the University of California, Irvine, and most importantly, the Merage School, gave me the opportunity to be the first person in my family to graduate college. In the last four years, I have met many students, faculty and staff that have helped me throughout my college journey. I will forever be grateful because they provided so much support and the resources they shared helped me reach my goals. Also, I am thankful to have been a part of student organizations and clubs where I have been able to create long-lasting memories and friendships.
A LETTER OF APPRECIATION
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for awarding me The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award. I was excited to learn that I was selected as a recipient, which supports first-generation undergraduate students to have access to an international business education. I want to express my sincere gratitude for the generous scholarship that you have awarded me, and to share with you a little about myself and the experiences that have led me to attend The Paul Merage School of Business.
I chose to attend The Paul Merage School of Business because of the size of the School which allows professors and mentors to give students the attention they deserve. When I first began classes as a freshman, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with Business Administration, but the Merage School has done an excellent job giving me the opportunity to explore different areas through a variety of classes. The classes that I enjoyed most were marketing and organization management. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be a marketing intern at Jamboree Housing, a nonprofit organization that helps make affordable housing possible for low-income families. Thank you again for the amazing opportunity to be a recipient of The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award.
- Ruby Osario ‘20
As a recipient of The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award, Catherine was asked: What does it mean to you to show leadership in the time of COVID-19?
Learning that the Spring 2020 quarter was transitioning to online, I was unsure about many things. When the pandemic began, I had just finished my first two quarters of college, was involved in the tight-knit community at the Merage School and ready to take on leadership positions within multiple campus organizations. I questioned how virtual events worked and found connections difficult to make online. Yet, I knew that the next class of incoming students would face the same struggles as me, if not, larger.
Utilizing my role as Vice President of Marketing of the Undergraduate Business Association (UBA), I emphasized to students, new and old, how important it was to stay connected with peers, become selfmotivated to participate in workshops and immerse themselves in unconventional dialogues. I have been lucky enough to guide two mentees in UBA, as well as four first-year Undergraduate Student Association (MUSA) representatives as I acted as a MUSA associate.
Through mentorship, I have learned that being a leader is not about directing others: it is about teaching others.
Leadership has never been about who has the authority to make decisions. A leader remains open-minded, supportive and willing to make the most out of uncomfortable, challenging circumstances, especially during this time. When I reflect on this past year, it could have been easy to disengage during the lockdown, but I realized the majority of my personal growth this year has come from being out of my comfort zone, while pursuing unfamiliar opportunities.
CATHERINE NGUYEN
A LETTER OF APPRECIATION
Dear Mr. Cooke:
I am extremely grateful to be a recipient of the Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award and I am so appreciative of all the opportunities the Merage School has provided me.
In high school, we are given limited options on career and business-related organizations to join. Because of this, I couldn’t wait to explore the diverse professional organizations at UCI and create lasting relationships with driven individuals from all parts of the world.
I chose the Merage School because I knew it was one of the strongest and most selective undergraduate business programs in California. After attending Celebrate UCI, I knew that the Merage School was for me because of the invaluable resources, endless career opportunities, and infinite professional connections the School provides. While I was nervous for my first year of college, I found my home in this supportive tight-knit community.
During my time at the Merage School, I have been able to advance my professional growth and expand my network. From acting as Social Impact Director of Lambda Phi Nu to working in the Fully Employed and MBA Office at the Merage School, I consistently take on new challenges and push my boundaries. Next year, I will continue to serve as VP of Scholarship for Panhellenic Association and President of the Undergraduate Business Association and I hope to continue my involvement in the Merage Undergraduate Student Association and Lambda Phi Nu.
Despite only being a second-year student, I am still in awe of all the key opportunities and learning experiences that the School has provided. As I move forward throughout my college career and after graduation, I will always strive to give back to the community which has given so much to me.
Thank you so much again!
Best, Catherine Nguyen
As of December 2020, The Spangenberg Scholars for Global Leadership Award endowment is valued at $8,061. Once the endowed fund minimum of $50,000 is fulfilled, the annual scholarship award will be approximately $2,250.
$50,000
$45,000
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000 Projected Growth With Pledged Dollars
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
